Osteospermum plant named &#39;KLEOE14243&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Osteospermum  plant particularly distinguished by yellow ray florets and a semi-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEOE14243’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofOsteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, andhereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE14243’. ‘KLEOE14243’originated from a controlled cross conducted in summer 2010 in Nairobi,Kenya between the proprietary female Osteospermum variety ‘OE-2009-0827’(unpatented), and the proprietary male Osteospermum variety‘OE-2000-BA01’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhousefor evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEOE14243’ wasselected from the group of plants in April 2011. In May 2011,‘KLEOE14243’ was first vegetatively propagated by terminal vegetativecuttings. ‘KLEOE14243’ was found to reproduce true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation via terminal tip vegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Yellow ray florets; and

2. A semi-upright growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form,foliage, and flowers. The photograph is of a four-month-old plant grownoutdoors in Stuttgart, Germany in August 2012. The colors shown are astrue as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEOE14243’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on five-month-old plants grown ina greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in March 2015 using CCC 0.1% and 0.2%for growth regulation and artificial light, SONT and LED for 16 hours inalternation. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.        -   Botanical.—Osteospermum ecklonis.        -   Common.—Osteospermum; African daisy.        -   Designation.—‘KLEOE14243’.        -   Parentage.—Female parent: The proprietary female            Osteospermum variety ‘OE-2009-0827’ (unpatented) Male            parent: The proprietary male Osteospermum variety            ‘OE-2000-BA01’ (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial but usually cultivated            as an annual; not frost resistant.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Height (from top of soil, including inflorescence).—About            20.0 cm.        -   Width (including inflorescences).—About 30.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Terminal tip cuttings.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—14 weeks (winter            to spring).        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—About 3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Freely rooting, light tan in color.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Medium indentation of margin/serrate.        -   Immature color.—Upper surface: RHS 141B Lower surface: RHS            141C.        -   Mature color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A Lower surface: RHS            141C.        -   Length.—About 5.0 cm to 6.0 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.0 cm.        -   Texture and appearance (upper and lower surfaces).—Leathery            with a covering of fine hairs.        -   Petioles.—Absent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 144A Lower surface: RHS            141C.-   Stems:    -   -   Total number of branches per plant (calculated at the base            of the plant).—About 7.        -   Length.—Up to 14.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.6 cm.        -   Internode length.—Between 1.0 cm and 2.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 144B.        -   Texture.—Pubescent, a covering of fine hairs.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Length.—About 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS            143B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Composite, single.        -   Blooming habit.—Spring to autumn.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—About 30.        -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—About 2            weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent to faint.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7.0 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—About 1.5 cm.-   Disc floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—70 to 80.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Tube color.—Closed: RHS 145A Mature: RHS 1C.        -   Length.—About 0.5 cm.        -   Diameter (at apex).—About 0.1 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Apex color.—RHS 1C.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Base color.—RHS 157D.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Ray floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—About 20.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 9A and RHS 6A at the base Lower            surface: RHS 12A.        -   Length.—3.0 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Width.—0.9 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Up to 8.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Pubescent, a covering of fine hairs.        -   Color.—RHS 144B.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Texture.—Pubescent, a covering of fine hairs.        -   Color.—RHS 143A.        -   Arrangement.—Single.        -   Observed quantity per flower.—About 20.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 143A Lower surface: RHS 143B.        -   Length.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Width.—0.1 cm to 0.2 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Pubescent, a covering of fine hairs            Lower surface: Shiny.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Location: On the disc floret only Stamens:            Quantity: Numerous Shape: Filamentous Filament length: About            0.5 cm Filament diameter: Less than 0.005 cm Anther: Shape:            Lanceolate Color: RHS 203A Length: About 0.3 cm Diameter:            Less than 0.05 cm Pollen: Color: RHS 14A Amount: Moderate.        -   Gynoecium.—Location: On the base of the ray florets, reduced            on disc florets Pistils: Number: About 20 fully developed on            ray florets Length: 0.3 cm Diameter: Less than 0.05 cm            Stigma: Color: RHS 6C Shape: Split in two parts at the end            Length: About 0.1 cm Diameter: Less than 0.05 cm Style:            Color: RHS 4D Length: 0.3.cm Diameter: Less than 0.05 cm.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect    resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEOE14243’ is distinguished from its parents, the female parent‘OE-2009-0827’ (unpatented) and the male parent, ‘OE-2000-BA-01’(unpatented), as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male ParentCharacteristic ‘KLEOE14243’ ‘OE-2009-0827’ ‘OE-2000-BA01’ Ray floretYellow Yellow with pink Yellow color ring at the base PeduncleModerately Moderately Very long length long long

‘KLEOE14243’ is most similar to the commercial Osteospermum variety‘KLEOE11187’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,034). Differences between thevarieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEOE14243’‘KLEOE11187’ Ray floret, Absent to very Medium width of ring at the basenarrow Ray floret, Obtuse Acute shape of apex

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant designated‘KLEOE14243’ as illustrated and described herein.